Hello again. I just returned from a brief vacation from my life as a Trainee. A vacation where, you ask? Well, this requires a bit of explanation.

OK, as I may have written to some of you, I haven't felt very healthy since i arrived here. I thought initially that was a natural adjustment to the food, climate, etc. Well, as it turns out, I've gone and gotten a kidney infection. The syptoms present most blatantly as a severe low back pain. It really hurt on Friday, so I went home early from class and slept for 13 hours. I felt good for the rest of the weekend, until yesterday, when I woke up early in the morning again with the same pain. Class that morning became steadily more unbearable, until I borrowed my teacher's cell phone to call the medical office. A driver was sent to pick me up and we made the drive to the PC office. Eventually they took me to the hospital, as I was really really hurting. The hospital was pretty nice, as I went to the international hospital. It was clean, cool and quiet. After an examination and several tests, they determined I had a kidney infection and I was given an IV antibiotic. I've never had an IV before, so that was interesting. It's a good thing I've given up my fear of needles... To sum it up, I spent about 6 hours in the hospital, and came out feeling a lot better. Oh, I did have a translator, by the way, who was extremely kind to me. I couldn't have made it past the front door with my own Chinese skills.

Then I had to spend that night in a hotel by the PC office, as they kept the IV needle in, in case I would need another today. That was uncomfortable, but the plus side was I did get a Western dinner--a turkey sandwich and carrot cake for dessert! There are lots of Western restaurants by the PC office and the hotel, and when I expressed no interest in anything involving rice, noodles or dumplings, the turkey sandwich was offered. The medical staff really wanted me to eat, and it was the first time I'd felt an appetite for much of anything in a long time.

Now I've got pills to take and I feel basically 100% better. My host parents are very happy I'm back, as are my classmates, who all expressed a genuine and sweet concern for me. All in all, things worked out. The PC staff was really supportive and I felt like my medical care was good. I missed about 1 day of training total. If that is the worst health emergency I go through in the next two years, I'll be quite satisfied. It's a good "war story" for the grandkids one day, right?

Happy Friday to all of you tomorrow. More from me later. Until next time,Zaijian!